US6036661A — Apparatus for administering acoustic shock waves

Claim 1

Independent Claim 111 words

Apparatus for administering acoustic shockwaves into a body, comprsing: at least one detachble treatment head with electrical cable and detachable connector for applying acoustic shockwaves to an area in a body to be therapeutically treated; a power supply unit with means for supporting and accurately positioning treatment heads; code means for storing electrical signals including electrical parameters embedded in said treatment head to store data and transmit treatment head characteristics to said power supply unit; means within the power supply unit to identify the treatment head characteristics connected to it; and means within the power supply unit to interpret coded signals and automatically reconfigure electrical output to match treatment heads characteristics.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 111 words

Apparatus for administering acoustic shockwaves into a body, comprsing: at least one detachble treatment head with electrical cable and detachable connector for applying acoustic shockwaves to an area in a body to be therapeutically treated; a power supply unit with means for supporting and accurately positioning treatment heads; code means for storing electrical signals including electrical parameters embedded in said treatment head to store data and transmit treatment head characteristics to said power supply unit; means within the power supply unit to identify the treatment head characteristics connected to it; and means within the power supply unit to interpret coded signals and automatically reconfigure electrical output to match treatment heads characteristics.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the treatment heads have different focussing properties or acoustic penetration depths.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the different penetration depths are accomplished by the use of by different conduction elements.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the conduction element comprises a closed water cushion.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the conduction element comprises or a plastic body of, for example, polyurethane.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the different focussing properties are achieved by different geometries of the reflector (10), by different acoustic lenses, or by different radii of curvature in a spherical design of the pressure pulse source.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, including at least two treatment heads, which can be operated separately or simultaneously.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, including device arranged in a predetermined positional relationship with treatment head.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said locating device is an ultrasound sensor, preferably a linear array ultrasonic scanner.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the focus of the treatment head, coincides with the target area of the locating device.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 47 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the locating device and the treatment head are mounted in a position-exchanging manner in such a way that, as a result of the exchange of positions, the focus of the treatment head, arrives at the target area of the locating device.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the locating device and the treatment head are attached to a support bracket (18), which can be rotated and or otherwise displaced for the exchange of positions.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein connection of the treatment head to the power supply unit comprises at least one pin-and-socket connector.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical operating values of the supply unit are automatically configured to suit the identified treatment head.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit stores and displays the number of shock wave pulses, the operating time, etc., of the individual treatment heads.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the treatment head stores the number of shock wave pulses, the operating time, etc., these values being read as needed and processed as well as displayed via the supply unit.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two treatment heads are connected, which emit the same or different pressure pulses simultaneously or in sequence.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the treatment head has a metal reflector with a wall thickness of ≦5 mm, and preferably of 1-3 mm.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the reflector is made of sheet metal by a shaping process, especially by metal spinning.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the reflector is surrounded by an air layer and an external shell in a sandwich design.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 111 words

Apparatus for administering acoustic shockwaves into a body, comprising: detachable treatment heads with electrical cable and pin-and-socket connector for applying said shockwaves to an area in said body to be therapeutically treated, a power supply unit with means for supporting and accurately positioning treatment heads; code means for storing electrical signals including electrical parameter in said treatment head to store data and transmit treatment head characteristics via said pin-and-socket connector to said power supply unit; mean within the power supply unit to identify the treatment head characteristics connected to it; and means within the power supply unit to interpret coded signals and automatically reconfigure electrical parameters to match treatment head characteristics.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 111 words

Apparatus for administering acoustic shockwaves into a body, comprising: detachable treatment heads with electrical cable and pin-and-socket connector for applying said shockwaves to an area in said body to be therapeutically treated, a power supply unit with means for supporting and accurately positioning treatment heads; code means for storing electrical signals including electrical parameter in said treatment head to store data and transmit treatment head characteristics via said pin-and-socket connector to said power supply unit; mean within the power supply unit to identify the treatment head characteristics connected to it; and means within the power supply unit to interpret coded signals and automatically reconfigure electrical parameters to match treatment head characteristics.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 108 words

Apparatus for administering acoustic shockwaves into a body, comprising: detachable treatment heads with electrical cable and pin-and-socket connector for applying said shockwaves to an area in said body to be therapeutically treated; a power supply unit with means for supporting and accurately positioning treatment heads; code means for storing electrical signals including electrical parameters embedded in said treatment heads to store data and transmit treatment head characteristics to said power supply unit; means within the power supply unit to identify the treatment head characteristics connected to it; and means within the power supply unit to interpret coded signals and automatically reconfigure electrical output to match treatment heads characteristics.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 108 words

Apparatus for administering acoustic shockwaves into a body, comprising: detachable treatment heads with electrical cable and pin-and-socket connector for applying said shockwaves to an area in said body to be therapeutically treated; a power supply unit with means for supporting and accurately positioning treatment heads; code means for storing electrical signals including electrical parameters embedded in said treatment heads to store data and transmit treatment head characteristics to said power supply unit; means within the power supply unit to identify the treatment head characteristics connected to it; and means within the power supply unit to interpret coded signals and automatically reconfigure electrical output to match treatment heads characteristics.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 107 words

An apparatus for administering acoustic shockwaves into a body, comprising; at least one treatment head for applying acoustic shockwaves to an area in a body to be therapeutically treated; a power supply unit with means for supporting and accurately positioning treatment heads; code means for storing electrical signals including electrical parameters in connector means of said treatment head to store data and transmit treatment head characteristics to said power supply unit; means within said power supply unit to identify the treatment head characteristics connected to it; and means within said power supply unit to interpret coded signals and automatically reconfigure electrical parameters to match treatment head characteristics.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 107 words

An apparatus for administering acoustic shockwaves into a body, comprising; at least one treatment head for applying acoustic shockwaves to an area in a body to be therapeutically treated; a power supply unit with means for supporting and accurately positioning treatment heads; code means for storing electrical signals including electrical parameters in connector means of said treatment head to store data and transmit treatment head characteristics to said power supply unit; means within said power supply unit to identify the treatment head characteristics connected to it; and means within said power supply unit to interpret coded signals and automatically reconfigure electrical parameters to match treatment head characteristics.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-03-14	2003-09-13	2004-03-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-03-14	2007-09-13	2008-03-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-03-14	2011-09-13	2012-03-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for administering acoustic shock waves

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